Letters from hundreds of victims of farm attacks presented to Minister of Police

The stories of about a hundred South Africans whose lives were destroyed by farm attacks, were presented to Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Police today. The victims demanded that the Minister break his silence on this issue by declaring farm attacks a priority crime. The batch letters was handed over jointly by AfriForum and Belinda van Noord, whose father and brother were murdered on their farm in the Brits district during the past holiday (see letter below). Included in the batch are 80 printed letters, as well as a DVD on which about 20 victims of farm attacks deliver messages to the Minister. Amongst the victims appearing on the DVD, is Susan Nortje, sister of Wilna and aunt of little Willemien Potgieter.

"Many of these people not only have to deal with the death of loved ones, but will also struggle for the rest of their lives with the senseless brutality of the murders," said Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum. "The total lack of support from die Minister of Police makes finding closure that much more difficult."

The video was compiled during the protest march against farm attacks, organised by AfriForum on 1 December 2012 (to commemorate the murders of Attie, Wilna and little Willemien Potgieter on 1 December 2010 on their farm near Lindley). The Minister had refused to accept the memorandum from the victims. In spite of an urgent explanatory court order that the march complied with all the legal requirements, the Minister insisted on regarding the march as an illegal gathering. The memorandum will be included in the batch.

Roets said that the Minister's silence bordered on collusion. "He has to intervene, not only because farmers are being murdered in great numbers, but also because farmers, who live in unique circumstances in remote areas with slow police reaction times, have to play a crucial role to provide food and employment in this country."

Belinda van Noord's letter to Minister Mthethwa:

 17 January 2013

Memorandum to the Minister of Police

The Honourable Minister, Mr Nathi Mthethwa

Dear Sir

The prioritising of farm attacks

My name is Belinda van Noord. I was born in South Africa and am proudly part of the rainbow nation. My family and I became part of South Africa's crime statistics in a brutal manner. On Thursday 13 December 2012 my father, Mr Gerhardus Rudolph (65), and my younger brother, also Gerhardus Rudolph (31), were concluding the day's business in the family's butchery in Brits (Geluk farm region), when four men entered the butchery just before 7pm and started firing shots of wielding guns. My father and brother, as well as one of the workers, Rebecca, were hit. Rebecca was shot in the chest, but was luckily not wounded fatally.

My brother, De Beer Rudolph (14) and my sister's son, Rudolph Botha (13) were in the adjoining office when they heard the first shot. Rudolph Botha wanted to rush to the scene to find out what was going on, but De Beer restrained him, saying: "No, don't go. They will kill us!" They saw the attack through a window and witnessed the horror of the four criminals shooting my father (grandfather) and brother (uncle). After the criminals had left the scene, De Beer ran up to my father to help him, but it was too late. Terrified and in shock, he ran outside screaming for help from onlookers outside the store, shouting: "Please someone help us; they killed my father!"

My brother, Mr Gerhardus Rudolph (Jnr.) and Rebecca were rushed to hospital. My brother was admitted to the ICU. He fought for his life for just over two weeks, but passed away on 28 December 2012. Our family has been in mourning for weeks now. We have been bereaved of our pillars of support, and as a family we now have to cope with the trauma of these brutal killings. The bullet couldn't be removed from Rebecca's chest. She is back at work following her hospital treatment, but is deeply traumatised.

South African citizens are no longer safe because violent criminals roam our streets, cities, towns and rural areas. Hardly a day goes by without there being news reports of people being killed in their homes, women being brutally assaulted and raped and, in some cases, of children who have to look on in horror how their parents are being killed.

The government can prioritise "save the rhino", but why is it that government cannot protect the citizens of South Africa? Is the life of an animal worth more than the life of a human?

In the Brits (Geluk) region the farming community has decreased from an original 260 farmers to only nine at present. Of the original number eleven farmers have been killed, while the others have sold their farms to the State (land claims).The farm workers in the Brits/Geluk region say that they don't leave their homes after dark, because they fear for their lives. Yet, our Police Commissioner still insists that farm killings are not a problem in South Africa.

When will government take action against these criminals? No one is safe anymore. We live in fear.

Yours faithfully

Mrs Belinda van Noord (Bereaved daughter of Gerhardus Rudolph)

Statement issued by Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, January 17 2013

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